Damper for fireplaces



, (No Model.)

P. T; RIPLEY. 4 DAMPER FOR FIRBPLAGES. M v No. 548,889. Patented Oct. 29, 1895. V

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WITNESSES- @NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PRENTISS T. RIPLEY, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

DAMPER FOR FIREPLACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,889, dated October 29, 1 895. Application filed April 12, 1895. Serial No. 545,490- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PRENTISS T. RIPLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Dampers for Fireplaces, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates toa damper located in the flue of a fireplace; and it consists in the devices for adapting the damper to the flue and for operating the damper, as hereinafter described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a front view of a fireplace provided with a damper embodying my invention, certain portions of the fireplace being broken away for better illustration. Fig. 2 shows a vertical section. Fig. 3 shows a plan of part of the devices, the lever being adjusted to a different position on the pivoted shaft from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. l

A frame A, preferably of cast-iron, is set in the throat of the flue so that the horizontal flangesa at the endslwill enter the brickwork and a longitudinal flange b will serve as a cross-bar to support the layer of bricks thereon. The damper B is secured to a piv otal shaft 0, having bearings at (1 dat the rear of the frame A. On the shaft 0 is also secured a weight W, located to act as a counterbalance to the weight of the damper. On the shaft 0, I adjustably fasten a lever 0, having the two arms e and e extending radially and substantially in opposite directions. This lever is secured to the shaft by means of a socket, which fits onto a rectangular part f of the shaft, and by a pin g, which extends through the lever and shaft, as shown. With such construction I am able to place the lever on the shaft so that the arms thereof may be in a vertical plane, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2, or in a horizontal plane, as in Fig. 3, thus providing for difierent positions of the operatingshaft D with reference to the fireplace. The

shaft D is located below the lever O and extends through the. wall at the side of the fireplace to the outside thereof. On the outer end of the shaft D is a knob E to be grasped by the hand and by which the shaft is rotated. This shaft may rotate in a tubular bearing h, fixed inthe wall and having therein a spring '5 to bear against the shaft to provide for a certain amount of friction. The shaft D has a collar F adj ustably secured thereon by means of set-screws j. To this collar is fastened an end of each of two chains In. The other ends of these chains are fastened to the ends of the lever C, as shown, so that by rotating the shaft D in either direction one of the chains will be wound on and the other chain unwound from the collar F to open or close the damper, as desired.

A plate G, through which the shaft G extends, is fastened on the outside of the wall and has certain indicating-marks on the ex terior face. The base-flange Z of the knob E hasa pointer thereon, so that the position of the damper may be readily determined.

While the operation of the damper is readily effected by means of the devices described, a small part of the apparatus is exposed on the outside of the fireplace, which part is neat and ornamental, and the whole may be readily fitted and adjusted to have the damper in the best position in the flue and the exterior parts in the most desirable location with reference to, the fireplace.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with a frame for the flue of a fireplace and a damper pivoted thereto to close the opening thereof, of a shaft at right-angles to the pivotal axis of the damper and to extend through the wall of the fireplace, a bearing wherein said shaft may r0- tate, connections between said shaft and damper whereby on rotation of the shaft in either direction the damper willbe swung in a corresponding'directiom-a knob or like attachment on the outer end of said shaft, and an indicator to show on the exterior of the wall of the fireplace by the rotation of said shaft the position of the damper, the pivotal shaft of the damper extending beyond the end of said frame so that the operating mechanism will be inclosed and protected by the wall of the fireplace, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with a damper adapted" 3. The combination of apivoted damper for Q a fireplace, a lever adj ustably secured on the i pivot of the damper and providing two radial arms, a shaft at right angles to the pivotal line of the damper and extending through the wall of the fireplace, an adjustable collar on said shaft, two chains connecting said collar and shaft with said arms to wind on the collar v in reverse directions, a bearing for said shaft provided withIa spring to presson the shaft, a

knob or like attachment on the end of said shaft, and an indicator to show by the rotation of said shaft the position of the damper, substantially as specified.

PRENTISS T. RIPLEY. \Vitnes'ses:

R. T. LAFFIN, EDW. DUMMER. 

